Year 1 English: The full stop at the end
Part of the Year 1 English making sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
The full stop at the end
A full stop is a small dot. It goes at the end of a sentence that tells something. It tells the reader: This sentence is finished. Stop here.
The sentence The bus is red needs a full stop, so it becomes The bus is red.
Key ideas
- A full stop is a small dot on the line.
- Put a full stop at the end of a sentence that tells something.
- The full stop shows where a sentence ends.
- The next sentence starts with a capital letter.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.The cat sat on the mat
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.The cat sat on the mat.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.The cat sat on the mat.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. Find where the first sentence ends. Then start the next sentence with a capital.
- Read the first sentence. It tells us Sam can swim.Sam can swim
- Put a full stop after swim. The first sentence ends after the last word.Sam can swim.
- Start the next sentence with a capital. Mia starts a new sentence, so M is a capital.Mia can run
- Write both sentences with full stops. Each sentence gets its own full stop.Sam can swim. Mia can run.
Check. There are two sentences and two full stops. ✓
Watch out. Each sentence needs its own full stop at the end.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.Ruby has a green cup
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.Ruby has a green cup.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.Ruby has a green cup.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Watch out
Watch out: do not leave out the full stop at the end of a sentence. Also do not put a full stop in the middle of a sentence or after a single word. A full stop goes only at the end.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read a page of a simple book together. Each time you reach a dot, ask: “Where does this sentence end?” On paper, let your child draw a neat dot at the end of each sentence.
Exercise 6D Adding full stops
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.The bus is red
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.The bus is red.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.The bus is red.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.Dogs can run
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.Dogs can run.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.Dogs can run.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.I like the park
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.I like the park.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.I like the park.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.Ali has a pet fish
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.Ali has a pet fish.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.Ali has a pet fish.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.The hat is blue
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.The hat is blue.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.The hat is blue.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.Birds sing in the morning
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.Birds sing in the morning.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.Birds sing in the morning.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.We went to the beach
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.We went to the beach.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.We went to the beach.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. Look at the end of each sentence. Only one has a dot.
- Look at the first sentence. It ends with the word full. There is no dot.The cup is full
- Look at the second sentence. It ends with a full stop.The cup is full.
- Write the finished sentence. It is the one with the full stop.The cup is full.
Check. Read both sentences aloud. Only the one with the dot is finished. ✓
Watch out. A sentence without a full stop looks unfinished on the page.
Method. A sentence that tells something ends with a full stop.
- Read the sentence to the end. Listen for where it finishes.Leo swam
- Put a full stop after the last word. The full stop shows the sentence has finished.Leo swam.
- Write the sentence with its full stop. Now the sentence is complete.Leo swam.
Check. Read it aloud and stop at the dot. ✓
Watch out. The full stop goes after the last word, at the end of the sentence. Not in the middle.
Method. Find where each sentence ends. Put a full stop there.
- Read the words. Look for the places where one idea ends.Sam likes cake Sam has a bag
- Put a full stop after cake. The first sentence ends after cake.Sam likes cake.
- Put a full stop after bag. The second sentence ends after bag.Sam likes cake. Sam has a bag.
Check. Two sentences, two full stops. ✓
Watch out. Look for the end of each idea, not the end of the line.
Method. Find the two sentences. Give each one a full stop at its end.
- Find the first sentence. It starts with the word I, which is always a capital letter.I have a dog
- Find the second sentence. It starts with the name Tom.Tom has a cat
- Write both sentences with full stops. Each sentence gets a full stop at its end.I have a dog. Tom has a cat.
Check. Read both sentences aloud. Each one stops at its full stop. ✓
Watch out. The second sentence starts with a capital because it is a new sentence.
Method. Think about what a reader does when they see a full stop.
- Think about the reader. A reader needs to know where a sentence ends.Where does it end?
- Think about what the dot tells them. The dot tells them to stop, then start a new sentence.Stop, then a new sentence
- Write the answer. It shows where one sentence ends.
Check. Read a sentence with and without its full stop. You can feel the difference. ✓
Watch out. Without a full stop, the reader does not know where to stop.
Method. A short sentence still tells something, so it still needs a full stop.
- Read the sentence. It tells us that fish swim.Fish swim
- Check if it tells something. Yes, it tells us what fish do. Length does not matter.It tells something
- Write the answer. It needs a full stop, even though it is short.No. Fish swim.
Check. Fish swim. has a full stop, and the sentence is finished. ✓
Watch out. A short sentence still needs a full stop.